The quality of the imagination is to flow and not to freeze.

Then climate is a great impediment to idle persons; we often resolve to give up the care of the weather, but still we regard the clouds and the rain.

Fear always springs from ignorance.

General ideas are essences. They are our gods: they round and ennoble the most partial and sordid way of living.

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

Every mind has a new compass, a new direction of its own, differencing its genius and aim from every other mind.--We call this specialty the bias of each individual. And none of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.

But I shall hear without pain, that I play the courtier very ill, and talk of that which I do not well understand.